The presence of potential listeria in several samples of hummus has prompted a national recall by Virginia-based Sabra Dipping Co. of 30,000 cases of Classic Hummus. Inspectors with the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development learned of the possible contamination by Listeria monocytogenes after routine inspections March 30 at a Kroger in Port Huron, according to Jennifer Holton, MDARD spokeswoman. Samples from the prepackaged product were collected for testing, and the results came back days later. Michigan officials alerted inspectors in Virginia and officials with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration who, in turn, are working with Sabra.

The recall is limited to five stock unit, or SKU, numbers of Classic Hummus. No other Sabra product is affected at this time. In healthy individuals, listeria monocytogenes may cause short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, But it can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems, and it can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.